Backswing is a critical part of ea great golf swing. It sets the stage for hard contact, so it’s something golfers constantly monitor and practice.
That said, no two returns are the same. Based on your body type, flexibility, AND desired ball flight, your backswing may look very different from someone else’s – just like you see on the pro tour and on the practice range every day.
Here are the top five fundamentals that influence an effective return.
1. Strengthen your control
While it may seem removed from the backstroke itself, your control has a huge impact on it. Holding the club properly in the fingers allows the wrists to hang and release properly. If you tend to get a hole in your glove, there’s a good chance your grip needs work.
The club should rest along the crease between your fingers and palm, with the heel pad sitting on top of the grip. Grip strength—whether it’s “weak” or “strong”—also affects forearm and shoulder extension. Since your shoulder line affects the swing path, your grip ultimately plays a direct role in your ball flight.
2. Keep the right posture
Good posture and placement are essential for consistent, face-centered contact. The proper distance between your arms and your body also affects the launch direction of the club.
Standing too close or feeling crowded often causes the backspin to move away from the body, leading to a drag or fade pattern. Standing too far from the ball encourages a more rounded swing, often producing push or hooks. Proper posture allows your arms to swing naturally under your shoulders, creating a strong base for the swing.
3. Understand how wings work
Arm movement generates speed and power. Their main job is to move the club up and down in motion. As you begin the backswing, let your arms swing freely. Once they move across your chest, your body will naturally begin to engage.
Using arm momentum helps create proper backswing length and keeps the club on a functional path.
4. Let the body do the rotation
As the arms begin the movement, the body responds. When the shoulders and hips engage, the club begins to move around the body, creating depth that creates an effective downswing path.
The phrase “don’t let the club leave you behind” can be misleading. When the upper body moves away from the target, the club naturally moves to depth – and that’s not a problem. Any club position that matches your body rotation is generally correct.
5. Know your limits of flexibility
Your flexibility determines how long your payback should be. If flexibility is limited, avoid forcing extra length – this can lead to injury and cause you to lose the structure of your set-up, making consistency much harder to achieve.
A simple test: sit in a chair and bend your arms as far as you can without moving your lower body. This gives you a realistic sense of your natural limitations and a suitable recoil length.
